Every year, at least 1,000 waterfront properties in Cottage Country go up for sale. Many families living in Toronto dream of owning their very own waterfront cottage. Others are ready to retire to a less hectic place where they can enjoy more land, more nature, more outdoor activities, and a waterfront home.

Ontario is blessed with having over 250,000 lakes and over 100,000 kilometers of rivers, so finding your perfect waterfront property is more about knowing where to look. Few other agents in the area possess over 20 years of knowledge and experience that the Lake Country Real Estate Team has when it comes to waterfront houses, so if you are wondering where to look give us a call. But what’s it like living in a waterfront home? Renting a seasonal waterfront cottage is all fun and games in the summer, but permanently living there are two totally different scenarios. To answer this question we first have to talk about what are all the different types of waterfront homes and how they differ.

Lakefront

By far the most popular option in Ontario, with so many lakes wherever you go, the Cottage Country lifestyle is fueled by embracing the resourcefulness of Ontario’s lakes. With spectacular views, calm fresh waters, and a seemingly endless amount of water related activities, living on a lakefront property might be the dream most people strive for. Ontario lakes can be large and vast allowing you to enjoy anything you want from boat rides and fishing, to water skiing and tubing. Large lakes like Lake Simcoe or Lake Couchiching tend to have larger homes and docks which allows its residents the ability to launch and park their boats on their property. Of course as everyone knows, larger homes equal higher price tags, especially in waterfront properties.

Smaller lakes, on the other hand, provide a cheaper price point but there may be restrictions as to how much you can do. Some small lakes restrict motorized boats, allowing homeowners to only enjoy water activities using canoes or kayaks. Also, if price is a big factor, you may have to drive farther than you think as waterfront homes become cheaper the farther away you are from a big city, and how small the lake is.

One problem that affects all waterfront properties, regardless of size, are mosquitoes and bugs. Expect bugs to surround your home in all seasons, except winter of course. In winter, living on a lake can also be a great thing as some lakes do freeze over. Having a frozen lake opens a lot of winter activities right at your doorstep, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and more! You have to be aware that ice can destroy your dock and your boat; so every fall, waterfront owners have to store their boats above water as well as their docks.

Riverfront

Next time you are looking at purchasing a waterfront property, ask us to show you a riverfront one as you may be in for a treat. Riverfront property offers many of the same perks lakefront properties but at a more attractive price tag. You can still enjoy activities such as water skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding and more, but you might have more neighbours around you doing the same thing. Some riverfront properties have homes closer together with neighbours on the other side of the river.

Another point worth noting is that some rivers have restrictions on boat speed, requiring you to travel to an open body of water in order to engage in more water activities. If your river is part of the Trent Severn Waterway then it would not be an issue as you can travel anywhere in the world which is a fantastic option for boaters. If you are looking at owning a waterfront property to use your boat, you have to be aware that some rivers are narrow, restricting you where you can launch your boat and how far out you can build a dock. Commonly, you would be required to launch your boat from a marina nearby and sail to your property which means a longer commute and fuel expenses. Some rivers are so shallow that you wouldn’t be allowed boat access. Because there are a higher amount of properties closer together, rivers tend to be busier and maneuvering in and out of it might be a struggle.

Many of the same issues that plague lakefront can also affect riverfront, including insects and mosquitoes. In winter, boat owners also require their boats be stored above water, but unlike lakefront properties, riverfront doesn’t allow you the space to be able to store your boat in your own property. Boats would have to be retrieved at the nearby marina and driven to storage.

There are so many nuances with waterfront properties that you need the right people to help you navigate through it all. This is merely an introduction to all the different features that come with living in a waterfront home. Luckily, you have landed on the right team that is ready to take on the task of helping you find your perfect home. The Lake Country Real Estate Team are experts in waterfront properties with over 600 transactions under their belt and more than 45 years combined experience. We look forward to your call: 705-238-6001

What to do during a home inspection

What is a home inspection?

Home inspection is a report on the overall condition of the home. As per the state’s guidelines, the home should recognize well-being, security, or major mechanical issues.

How do you Choose your Home Inspector?

Most home purchasers decide to make the close depending upon the consequence of the home review.

It is helpful that you discover a list of inspectors in your state or zone that has a place with the nonprofit professional organization

It is best to look for Home Advisors and Yelp Reviews.

What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

Try not to be worried about the number of imperfections recorded on your report. The same number will be so minor you won’t have trouble to fix them. Rather, focus on the reality of the home’s issues.

By having an understanding of these 11 problem areas as you walk through your home, you’ll be arming yourself against future disappointment

1. Defective Plumbing – Plumbing and water-sealing imperfections can be notorious causes behind the debasement of auxiliary quality and respectability of a structure.
2. Damp or Wet Basement – Most storm cellars present at any rate the likelihood that wetness will intrude, basically by the fact of the way that they’re incorporated with the ground.
3. Inadequate Wiring & Electrical – An electrical risk exists when the wire is too little a measure for the flow it will convey
4. Poor Heating & Cooling Systems – Insufficient insulation, and an inadequate or a poorly functioning heating system, are the most common causes of poor heating
5. Roofing Problems – Address any bugs with a spray or professional exterminator. Any indication of an infestation will alarm an inspector.
6. Damp Attic Spaces –
7. Rotting Wood – The building inspector will now and again test the wood to check whether this is available – particularly when the wood has been newly painted.
8. Masonry Work – Brickwork requires tools for different purposes, for example for the handling of mortar, for the dressing of stone, for cutting of blocks to get required shape
9. Unsafe or Overfused Electrical Circuit – With regards to your home’s electrical framework, well-being and security are foremost. A little issue with the wiring can cause a fire. It can even form into a shock hazard making the property dangerous for your family.
10. Adequate Security Features – Installing a home security system intends to ensure your home and resources and to keep your family protected from potential break-ins by criminals.
11. Structural/Foundation Problems – Your home’s basic structure relies upon the quality of your foundation. It supports everything else – dividers, windows, floors, entryways, rooftop – so when your establishment is harmed, it can cause significant issues all through your home

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR HOME INSPECTION?

Keep your receipts of any services you’ve at any point had on your home or its parts.
Put away the messiness in spaces like storm cellar, storage room, carport, and slither spaces.
Be certain that the examiner has access to the electrical panel, heater, and water heater.
Lock up your pets to avoid your pets from running around the house.
You will have to ensure that the lights are working and not worn out. If the lights aren’t working, it could be an indication of electrical issues.
Run water in every sink and bath to check for clogs as this could signify a plumbing issue in the report.
Replace filters in the HVAC system. Filthy air channels bargain the air quality in the home and will raise a warning for the assessor
Remove soil away from the exterior on the outside to stay away from storm cellar water issues, which is a top thing inspector search for
Fix any split windows or broken screens

Finding the right real estate agent to represent you can be challenging. There are many agents to choose from and almost every homeowner you meet will have a recommendation. It may take a bit of time, but interviewing and evaluating agents is worth every minute. Buying or selling a home is no small task, so you want to make sure you get the right person in your corner. Here are 10 essential things to look for in a real estate agent.

1. An active listener
   You want to ensure that when you speak, your agent listens to you and takes your wants and needs into full consideration. Your agent will represent you in what is sure to be one of your life’s biggest purchases or sales, so it’s crucial to make sure they understand your priorities. Look for an agent who remembers your list of wishes, contacts you when they see something that suits your needs, and who does not monopolise your discussions. Typically, good agents are good salespeople, but make sure they’re not trying to sell you for your own needs. It’s time to start looking for another agent, if you don’t feel listened to.
2. Good references or referrals
   There’s no quicker way to find out what your real estate agent can expect from you than by contacting their previous customers. When assessing agents, some buyers and sellers skip this step, but we would highly recommend taking the time to get honest feedback. Agents, preferably in the cities you are looking at, should come to list appointments or meetings equipped with recent references. If a friend or family member has referred your potential real estate agent to you, make sure you ask them in detail about how the agent operated on each of the nine other points on this list.
3. Honesty, especially in difficult situations
   This can be difficult to gauge, but finding an honest agent whose opinion you can trust is extremely important. The experience and opinion of your agent about making or accepting offers should be extremely valuable to you, but that will only be the case if you can trust them fully to operate in your best interest. You want to find an agent who will tell you their honest opinion, even if they know their thoughts will not be received pleasantly, so that with as much information as possible, you can truly make decisions. When making difficult decisions, an honest agent who stands by his or her instincts is indispensable.
4. Passion
   It’s fairly easy to tell whether or not an agent is passionate about their job and the real estate industry in general, unlike some of the other items on this list. Before you find your dream home, you want an agent who is excited about getting the highest bid possible on your listing, or who is combing through new listings. They should know the latest trends in the Canadian real estate market and really enjoy talking with you about them. It should be an enjoyable process to buy or sell your home, and a good real estate agent who is passionate about their work can make all the difference.
5. Negotiation skills
   A good real estate agent pays for himself, they say, and the bargaining table is the place where this can really happen. It takes a good understanding of both the seller’s situation and the negotiation style of the listing agent to read whether you should make a strong offer, a counter-offer, or a low offer. Pricing a listing properly on the other side of things is somewhat of an art form that can set the stage for a successful negotiation and timely sale. Be sure that your agent has the necessary negotiating skills to get you a good offer, or to accept your offer.
6. Someone with support
   If you’re a home buyer for the first time, you might be surprised at just how many people during your home buying process you’ll need to be introduced to. During the home buying process, your agent should be able to recommend a notary, a mortgage broker, a home inspector, and any other potential service providers you may need. An agent who has established such strong relationships is likely to be someone who is respected in the industry, which should give you trust when negotiating on your behalf.
7. Effective communication skills
   Take note of how you are spoken to by your potential agent, how they treat other individuals, and how they communicate on social media with the world. You want to make sure that your agent can sell efficiently, which requires the ability to clearly communicate. One of the best ways to judge this is to see how, when you meet them, they sell themselves. You’ve probably discovered a good communicator that will represent you well if they make a strong case for you to use their services.
8. A strong online presence
   You should also take a look at their online profiles to see how they sell themselves, and their client homes, online, not just evaluate your agent in person. Check to see if they have a social media follower, featured website profiles such as REW, and where their previous listings were shared online. Typing their previous sales addresses into Google Search will help give you an idea of where, if you list with them, you can expect to see your property online.
9. Decisions based on data
   You want to make sure they back up their views and suggestions with hard data when you speak to a potential agent. Select an inside and out agent who knows the market, and don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about your field of interest and see what kind of knowledge and insight they have. It doesn’t have to be a formal pop quiz, but it’s important to make sure that your agent knows the area you want to buy or sell in.
10. Experience
    To be clear, we’re not suggesting you should only work with 20-year industry veterans. Experience is certainly not everything, but having it is an asset that you should take into account when evaluating potential agents. Your agent should be able to provide you with examples of past buying and selling experiences that lead to positive outcomes. You also want to make sure that they know and have good relationships with other industry professionals, as they could be negotiating with them in the near future on your behalf.
    If you find an agent that ticks off the 10 boxes above, you should be in for a great experience.

“Ultimate Gray” was recently revealed to Pantone as one of the two colours of 2021 the year. For clinical and psychological comparisons, a complementary yellow hue elevated was also chosen: motivation meets resilience. Paint and plants can quickly (and affordably) raise moods, which means that winter is not associated with grey! Fill your home with the joy of an indoor garden and add some green to this monochrome season. We have gathered the requisite tips, tricks and tidbits to help you start with trust for those who consider the Chia pet as their only qualification.

Novice-friendly plant options

As natural place settings, succulents will double. You excel with sunlight in pots that drain well and let you know that you’re feeling unpleasant or overhydrated. Aloe plants are a popular entry level and can also provide immediate relief from burning for newbie bakers. You may also plant an aloe leaf broken in the ground and grow like a lizard tail.

Beginner who know the self-sufficiency of a jade plant in a short attention span. Their leaves have a great deal of water retention and can go with no water or attention like a camel a month. Jade plants love to enjoy the warm and dry atmosphere in an apartment or condo with radiators.

Cacti are another resilient newbie choice. The soil should be damp, not arid like the desert! Cacti love bright light and will enjoy a sunny perch in a windowsill. They come in strange and peculiar forms from the powder puff to conversation pieces like the rat tail cactus.

Paperwhite narcissus (or simply, paperwhites) are a fragrant and easy-to-grow choice. They can be planted in bowls or shallow containers (seven to 10 cm) packed with decorative stones and pebbles.

Greenhorns should also consider growing an amaryllis. The plant rewards its doting owner by flowering within six to eight weeks of planting. With a little TLC the amaryllis will continue to produce flowers for your Instagram, year after year.

Indoor gardens with purpose

Why not convert your windows into a food shed in-house? Create tomato sauce and salsa, or cocktails or home-made tea with your own indoor herbs. You should add greenery to your windows and menu for your favourite herbs (cilantro, mint, rosemary, basil). You can grow strawberries, tomatoes, carrots and greens of garlic if your room is allowed! You can turn your kitchen scraps into windowsill plants with a little imagination. Far from any fruit or vegetable, from a sweet potato to the pineapple crown, it can sprout again. Micro greens are a healthy way to pursue your sandwiches and salads and will add some new crunch.

Over Exposure: Plant SPF

They are sensitive! They are sensitive! The responsive plant in particular! This is the beauty of plants—still letting you know what they don’t like, or feeling like they live in the dark. Most plants prefer windows facing south or west and sunshine for a minimum of six hours. Some organisms can also enjoy your bathroom’s humidity. A general guiding principle is the collection of plants with tropical native habitats. Cleverly absorbs water and nutrients from theair, air plants don’t even need pots.

The growing and natural sunlight is the prediction of aerogardens and hydroponic systems. Digital alerts let you know when to jump and the light is on a timer. If you have to go vertically, you will also want to aspire to living walls. When you are ready to graduate, your most finished plants will let you know!

Positive Vibes.

Professional practise is horticultural counselling. Like a long hammock swing or a deep lavender massage, plant time is restorative and nourishing to mental and emotional wellbeing. Bonus: whatever shape you choose, your green space will take! You should grow alongside your plant family, it is experimental, always evolving!
Plants deliver so many things—they remind us of the summer and exotic getaways. A composer called “Mother Earth’s Plantasia” was published in 1967 by the composer Mort Garson for plants! Seems like a little synthesiser, also African violets!